BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of February 6, 2007

 

 

A special meeting was held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 5, 2007 at Skamania County Emergency Operations Center, 200 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, and Jamie Tolfree present, for the purpose of declaring a local emergency due to landslide activity in the Piper Road/Rock Creek area of Stevenson.  Commissioner Richardson was present via phone conference.  No action was taken at this meeting.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Monday, February 5, 2007 and reconvened at 12:00 p.m. the same date at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair and Jamie Tolfree present.  Commissioner Richardson was present via phone conference.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-10 declaring a local emergency due to landslide activity in the Piper Road/Rock Creek area of Stevenson.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:25 p.m., Monday, February 5, 2007 and reconvened at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss landslide activity in the Piper Road/Rock Creek area, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Joelle McGonagle, Gary Johnson, and Bill Shelton advised of concerns expressed in a letter recently sent to the Commissioners regarding construction/road building along Carson Creek off of Depot Road.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of January 30, 2007.

2.       Liquor license application for Gorge Crest Winery.

3.       Acknowledge receipt of letter from concerned property owners regarding excavation/land development in area of Columbia Heights/Burke Short Plat/Carson Creek & forward to Planning Department.

4.       Set public hearing for 1:30 PM Tuesday, February 20, 2007 to consider Ordinance 2007-05 amending Skamania County Code Chapter 3.45 Current Use Assessment Programs, Section 3.45.11 Primary Use for Forest Crop Production to include language for any parcel that was in the process of a land division at the time of adoption.

5.       Set public hearing for 2:00 PM Tuesday, February 20, 2007 to receive public comment and possibly take action on a nuisance violation on property located at 401 Harder Road owned by Terry and Sylvia Shoell.

6.       Bid award for two 50-cubic yard drop boxes with retractable lid and one 39-cubic yard recycle container with center divider.

7.       Contract with City of North Bonneville to provide law enforcement services within City limits.

8.       Contract with City of North Bonneville to provide incarceration services for City municipal inmates.

9.       Agreement amendment #2 with Greater Columbia Behavioral Health extending the term and replacing the service table for the Mental Health Block Grant.

10.    Contract with Northwest Hydro, Inc to provide bathymetry one-foot contour map of Wind River Boat Launch site.

11.    Contract with Flowing Solutions LLC to provide permitting design assistance for Wind River Boat Ramp.

12.    Contract with James W. Potts to provide County representation during legislative sessions, meetings & conferences of interest to the County.

13.    Resolution 2007-07 Canceling Uncollectible Personal Property Taxes.

 

Representatives from Public Works, the Sheriff’s Office and the City of Stevenson were present for a report on the Piper Road/Rock Creek area landslide.  Discussion included the need to dredge sediment from the mouth of Rock Creek, notification to area residents, action plan, daily updates, press releases, and the need to establish a joint information center.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to authorize Public Works to enter into contracts for emergency excavation of Rock Creek material from the Rock Creek Drive bridge to State Road 14 bridge.

 

The Auditor advised of pending 2006 vouchers for various departments.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to assure that all 2006 vouchers for various departments would be paid.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding litigation from 10:40 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., with action taken.

 

Richard Robinson, Public Works Project Engineer presented a written report for Public Works.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director presented the 2006 Annual Report, and reported on an upcoming Community Growth meeting and Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting, Hearing Examiner request for proposals, Westend Subarea Plan, and Western WRIA 29 Instream Flow grant.

 

The Board participated in a workshop to discuss a draft memorandum of understanding with the City of Stevenson regarding emergency excavation of Rock Creek, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2007 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from January 23, 2007 for deliberations by the Board, to consider Ordinance 2007-01 extending the moratorium for an additional six-months on the acceptance and processing of land divisions creating lots of less than 10 acres, on the construction/placement of more than one single-family dwelling per legal lot of record, and the acceptance and processing of State Environmental Policy Act checklists related to forest practice conversions for any parcel located within the area generally known as the Swift Subarea of Skamania County.  The hearing was previously closed to written and oral comments.  Motion was made by Commissioner Tolfree and seconded by Commissioner Richardson to approve Ordinance 2007-01.  Following discussion, Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to amend the first motion to include a review of the moratorium at the Board’s first public meeting in May 2007.  The first motion to approve Ordinance 2007-01 as presented carried unanimously.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2007 and reconvened at 2:05 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Noxious Weed Control Board to discuss unemployment issues, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve contracts with Cascade Equipment and Construction and McNealy Excavating, Inc. for emergency excavation of Rock Creek material from the Rock Creek Drive bridge to State Road 14 bridge due to the Piper Road/Rock Creek area landslide.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:55 p.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2007 and reconvened at 10:25 a.m. Wednesday, February 7, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss the Comprehensive Plan and Swift Subarea, SEPA impact fees, storm water management and permissive rainwater harvesting systems, vacant Permit Technician position, and a letter regarding Carson Creek, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss Rock Creek Community Services Center, Courthouse expansion, Rock Creek mini remodel, upcoming hotel/motel agreement, and Fair issues, with no action taken.

 

Ole Helgerson, WSU Cooperative Extension Agent gave updates on the 4-H program, Title III programs, forestry, and gardening and pest management.

 

The Board continued in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss the Comprehensive Plan and Swift Subarea, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, February 7, 2007 and reconvened at 2:15 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Assessor to discuss reorganization and the expanded use of Terra Scan System, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 3:19 p.m. until 3:35 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Central Services regarding internet and computer policies, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, February 7, 2007 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 8, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss federal forest funding and scheduling, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, February 8, 2007 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve 13th month vouchers for the period ending December 31, 2006 in the total amount of $54,123.62.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending February 8, 2007 in the total amount of $679,774.27.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a voucher to Department of Retirement Systems in the total amount of $645.21.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve payroll for the period ending January 31, 2007 in the total amount of $1,048,285.49.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to ratify the Chair’s signing on February 7, 2007 of a  Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Stevenson for emergency and mitigation works related to protection of property, individuals and flood control on the lower portion of Rock Creek due to landslide activity.

 

Commissioner Pearce joined the meeting at approximately 11:25 a.m.

 

The Board met with representatives from the Mosquito Control Board to discuss spraying and treatment on County property in the Home Valley area from Wind River to Grant Lake, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Thursday, February 8, 2007 and reconvened at 2:45 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve to approve a Temporary License Agreement and Stipulation for Construction with Joseph and Diane Birkenfeld to enter upon land for access to Rock Creek for excavation of material and placement of material on the subject property due to the Piper Road/Rock Creek area landslide activity.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve an agreement with Skamania County Mosquito Control District to conduct an assessment of mosquito infestation in the area from Wind River to Grant Lake inclusive.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON